Have you recently decided to sell your home? If so, have you considered listing it with a professional real estate service? In most cases, this will be the best way to get a quick sale at a price that will represent a substantial return on your initial investment. Most industry experts and home sellers agree that using a real estate service is the quickest and most effective way to sell properties across the country.

Why Do People Sometimes Elect to Sell Their Home By Themselves?

However, there is no law that states that you must use a real estate service to sell your home. Many people have elected to use the "For Sale By Owner" approach in order to get the job done. In doing so, they tend to believe that this is the best way for them to sell their home quickly and for the best price. Perhaps the biggest draw here is that they won't have to split the proceeds up with a share going to a real estate service.

Is the Worth of Your Home the Last Word on Your Selling Price?

While it is true that you will be able to pocket all of the proceeds from the sale if you handle it all by yourself, this really isn't the whole picture. Suppose that you decide that the worth of your home is $100,000. You may have had a visit from a home appraiser that put this figure in your head. So far, so good. But what about the other homes in your area? The worth of these homes will have an effect on your own.

This is where you are bound to come up against a somewhat uncomfortable reality. If the average worth of a home in your area is $80,000, you're going to have a great deal of trouble convincing a potential buyer to spend an extra $20,000 on your own property. And if the neighborhood itself isn't in the best possible shape, you're also going to encounter resistance when you post your final asking price.

The Longer Your Home Sits, the Lower the Price Goes

Now we come up to the crux of the matter: The longer your home sits on the market, the lower the price you will get for it. Eventually, you're going to realize that your previous figure of $100,000 just isn't attracting any buyers. So what can you do? You can invest more money in renovations to justify your sale price and make your home even more attractive. But how much can you spend before you're in the negative?

The longer your home sits unsold, the more inevitable is the ultimate solution: You are going to have to drop your asking price. You may first grudgingly agree to drop it to $90,000. If this doesn't do the trick, you may ultimately have to drop it down to $80,000. What if this doesn't work? Now you're at the mercy of private buyers who may well decide to wait until you are forced to drop it all the way down to $50,000, or even $40,000.

Using a Real Estate Service is Your Best Solution

Instead of subjecting yourself to an agonizing wait and a steep drop in profits, why not use a real estate service to get the job done? You will pay a small percentage of the sale to your agent. But if you can get the highest amount on the sale, a small percentage is worth it. It's the quick and easy way to get your home sold.

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If you have followed the housing market in Canada over the past year, you undoubtedly heard mention of the decline in housing prices. In fact, this has been the steepest decline in Canadian home prices since 1995. While this may seem like an alarming fact at first, it is actually not as doom and gloom as it may appear for sellers and real estate investors alike.

Canadian Home Price Statistics from the Canadian Real Estate Association

The Canadian Real Estate Association (CREA) released a statistic last month that the average home price in Canada dropped almost 4.9 percent in comparison to home values in December 2017. They estimate that the average home price in Canada is holding at about $472,000 for the time being. For the year overall, there was about a 4.1 percent dip in Canadian home values in comparison to all of 2017. This is the statistic that confirms the steepest average yearly home value drop in the last 23 years.

How Averages Can Be Deceiving in Canadian Real Estate Valuations

Without breaking these numbers down further, it can seem like a bad time to put your house on the market for any Canadian real estate owner. However, the averages can be a bit deceiving as this breakdown will illuminate.

Factoring the Value of Homes that Were Actually Listed for Sale

One of the first factors to consider in figuring out why home values may be showing as declining fairly rapidly is which houses were actually listed for sale and which ones sold. For example, if the majority of homes listed for sale in a given area happened to be less expensive homes than average, then this could cause the overall average home prices to decline significantly. Note that this does not necessarily mean that the actual value of any of the homes in that area decreased. Even if their values increased or stayed the same, there could still be an overall decline in home prices if the homes that appreciated were not the ones that were listed for sale or sold.

Home Price Drops in Certain Locations May Skew the Average Home Prices

There are many variations in home prices across the country, which must be taken into account when looking at overall Canadian real estate market trends. For instance, the Toronto and Vancouver markets have remained a mainstay for high-volume real estate transactions in Canada. The dip in home prices in those markets could skew the national average because more homes tend to be bought and sold in those areas at a faster pace. This certainly does not mean that prices for homes in other areas dropped in a commensurate fashion.

When the home prices for Toronto and Vancouver are excluded from the national average calculation, an additional $100,000 is added back into the national home price average. This is a significant boost, although it is not enough to completely surmount the overall decline in home prices throughout the country.

Key Takeaways from the 2018 Statistics on Canadian Home Prices

After taking a closer look at the reason behind the national trend, you should feel slightly more optimistic about the state of home prices in Canada. Even though there is some room for tempering these numbers, the fact still remains that home prices have declined overall. Buyers can certainly take advantage of the current trend, but it would be a mistake to expect rock-bottom home prices when shopping the market. Conversely, sellers can be optimistic that the trends are not as bad as they first appear.

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Are you considering selling your home? If so, you should know that there are good and bad times to make this move. There are a number of factors that you need to keep in mind before you put your home up for sale. In this article, we'll go over a few of the key considerations that should guide you as you mull over this very important decision.

Make Sure Your House is at its Highest Value

The first thing you need to do is make sure that your home value is as high as possible. You want to sell your home for a considerably higher amount than you paid for it. There are a number of things you can do to ensure that this is the case.

A timely course of renovations should be high on your list. You don't have to spend a great deal of money to increase the resale value of your home. Simple things like replacing the faucets in your kitchen and bathroom and maybe redoing the tiles in both areas should suffice.

If you have a bit of money to spare, you could even consider adding a deck or patio to your home. This is an especially good move if you happen to live in a scenic area such as by a river, lake, or canyon.

It also helps to live in a neighborhood where home values are high. The better the quality of the neighborhood, the more you can charge for your home and the faster you will be able to sell it.

Make Sure Interest Rates Are Low for Home Buyers

Another important factor to keep in mind is that it's always best to sell when the market for home buyers is at its most inviting. Keeping track of interest rates is a wise precaution. The best time for people to consider buying a home is when interest rates are at their lowest.

The reason for this is simple. The lower the rate of interest a bank charges for a mortgage, the easier it is for a home buyer to get one. This means that you will get more and better offers for your home. Instead of spending a year on the market, you may be able to get it sold within a matter of a few weeks.

Make Sure You Deal with a Professional Real Estate Service

When you decide to sell your home, you have a number of options in front of you. You can go the "For Sale By Owner" route and try to unload it all by yourself. This will mean putting out a sign on your front yard and maybe doing a bit of advertising in your local "Thrifty Nickel" publication.

The problem with this approach is that it is much more of a crapshoot than it would be if you listed your home with a professional real estate service. You have to depend on local home buyers who may be inclined to buy your property but not at the price you have set for it.

Instead of wasting weeks or months haggling with potential buyers who want to talk you down to the lowest possible price, you're better off listing it with a real estate agency. These are the pros who can list your home on the web and get it noticed by a much wider audience.

At the end of the day, it's up to you to make the choice on how you wish to proceed. Listing your home with a professional agency has advantages that the "Do it Yourself" method cannot match.

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If you are like most sellers, you have put a lot of thought into getting your home ready to go on the market. This includes removing personal items that might turn buyers off, or fixing repairs that make your home seem well-kept. Something that sellers may not think about is the impact that neighbours have on their property. This is an aspect of the selling process that should never be underestimated. Good neighbours can help you attract serious buyers, while bad neighbours could make individuals pass up on your property. Continue reading to learn more about how other homeowners can affect properties that are for sale within their communities.

Large Automobiles and Crowded Driveways

People who value a clean and quiet subdivision will not want to purchase a home in an area where the homeowners park oversized trucks in the driveway, or on the lawn. Crowded driveways could also mean that the home has frequent traffic throughout the day and night, which could also be a turn off to potential buyers.

If your subdivision has rules regarding driveway and sidewalk etiquette, make sure those rules are enforced. You can do so by alerting the homeowner’s association when a neighbour violates the rules. This is generally confidential, allowing you to be honest and open without causing tension between you and your neighbours.

Unkempt Yards

When it comes to landscaping, every homeowner is different. You could be more of a vegetable and fruit garden type of person, whereas your neighbour could be into flowers and shrubs. This is completely fine because it gives you the ability to appeal to all types of buyers. However, if your neighbour does not keep her yard up, the overgrown grass and bushes could have a negative impact on your ability to attract serious buyers. They will likely want to avoid dealing with neighbours who have unkempt grass and debris in the yard, so they keep driving and go look elsewhere. The local government may be able to step in, especially if a homeowner is not following environmental laws. You should also speak with your homeowner’s association.

Loud Animals

Loud barks and roaming animals could have a negative impact on the selling process. The best way to solve this issue is to speak with your neighbours. You can have a civilized conversation and ask them to keep the noise down to a minimum. Always be respectful and make sure you give them your viewing schedule, so they can try to make accommodations for their pets. You could voluntarily pay to have your neighbour’s pets groomed during the hours of your showings, or you can pay for a pet sitter. This can prevent the loud animals from having a negative effect on the sale of your home.

Lack of Privacy

Some neighbours pop up unannounced and fail to give other homeowners the space they deserve. This can be a bad thing, especially when potential buyers are viewing your property. However, as a seller, you can spin this negative issue by elaborating on the safety advantages that having good neighbours can provide. While writing the content for your listing, you can say things like, “helpful neighbours within a close community.” Putting a positive spin on the situation could prevent a nosey neighbour from being detrimental to the selling process.

When the time comes to put your house on the market, you don’t want to work hard, only to have your neighbours chase away potential buyers. The key is to utilize all of your resources and to stay positive. Although this seems like something that is beyond your control, an experienced sales representative can help you find ways to make your home more marketable, despite having bad neighbours!

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According to Morguard Corporation, consumer trust and interest in the Canadian real estate market, is steadily increasing. This year alone, has seen a significant rise in property asset acquisition. Morguard Corp., predicts that as 2019 rolls around, consumers can expect a favorable real estate and commercial property market trend late into the new year. Luckily, the market shows no evidence of slowing down in the near future. Home buyers looking to buy a new home in 2019, can expect a healthy market, thriving with sellers willing to list their properties.

Market Trend: Investor Interest is Increasing

Canadian commercial real estate properties are especially seeing an increase in investment groups looking to acquire long-term and short-term assets. As it stands, investor interest seems to remain centralized on the core and core-plus properties that exist in Canada’s prominent urban communities. This attraction is due to consumer confidence being restored in the last few years, and the Canadian economy is holding steady. A series of multi-suite residential assets with particularly strong tenant profiles, have also caught investor attention in the last year or so. These properties are expected to benefit much from this investor interest, especially in 2019, as the market starts to lean in favor of commercial real estate properties.

Reports have also shown a decrease in nation-wide rental property vacancies. Rental properties have also seen a gradual increase in tenants and monthly rental rates. These rate increases are the direct result of changes in Canada’s demographic. In the last two years, Canada has experienced a surge in urban population, which has placed a strain on the housing market to accommodate immigration. Because of this factor, consumer demand has increased substantially in the housing market, especially for rental properties.

Canadian retail investment properties have also seen a record high this year. This increase is due to a gradual increase in consumer confidence and a higher performance in overall retail sales nationwide. Retail investment opportunities for 2019 appear to be shaky, however. MarketWatch, advises investors interest in retail investment opportunities, to steer towards more tangible assets and avoid the market for the time being. According to MarketWatch’s online report, the website highly predicts that the Canadian market will remain sustainable for the next few years, as long as the general economy holds steady.

Though this prediction is not the same for home sellers, as many Canadian home sellers are finding the market to be saturated with homes. This realization predicts that as 2018 comes to a close, and 2019 is waning, consumers can expect the housing trend to lean more towards the buyer’s market.

With the housing market booming, the labour market has also seen a renewal in confidence. In September, there were 1,171,100 Canadians still listed as unemployment, by the end of the month, close to 63,300 jobs were added to the Canadian economy. Most were geared towards a particular working demographic, and even with the new jobs, those that were "highly-educated" were still left jobless.

Morguard Corp. is a North American real estate company that specializes in the acquisition of both commercial and residential properties in both Canada and the United States. Morguard Corp. also acts as a real estate management service for various investor groups. Morguard Corp. has an extensive profile of properties that vary from retail, industrial, multi-suite residential, office, and hotel. According to their profile, Morguard Corp has an accumulation of $21.6 billion in acquired assets. The Morguard Corp. possesses direct holdings in their properties and businesses, as well as holdings that acquired through their association with Morguard North American Residental REIT (MRG.UN), Temple Hotels INC. (TPH), and Morguard REIT (MRT.UN).

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Have you started to think about selling your home? Your kids may have mode away to college and now the place is simply too big for you. Perhaps the climate where you live is too cold and you want to move to a warmer area. Whatever the reason may be, one thing is clear. You definitely want to make as much profit as possible from the sale of your property. Now is the perfect time to think about adding to its ultimate resale value. But what steps should you think about taking to reach this crucial goal?

Renovating Your Home Adds a Serious Amount of Resale Value

Did you know that an action as simple as repainting your home can add a considerable amount to its resale value? A recent study concluded that giving your home a new coat of paint can add up to $1,000 to the total asking price. Considering that you can get this job done for considerably less than this figure, this is one renovation that is well worth making. And it's fair to keep in mind that this is far from the only timely renovation you can make.

There are plenty of other things that you can do to add to the resale value of your property. There is absolutely no reason for you to put a serious dent in your budget while doing so. It's a good idea to start planning for the sale of your home as far in advance as possible. If you give yourself six months to a year to get your home in shape, you can proceed with a series of improvements that will pay for themselves when the time finally comes to put your home up for sale.

Adding Resale Value to Your Home Will Result in a Profitable Sale

The more time and effort you take to add to the resale value of your home, the more you will ultimately profit. Even something as small as fixing the faucets in your sink will have an effect. Replacing decayed or fading wallpaper takes an eyesore away from the notice of a potential buyer. And if you really want to go for broke, why not replace the antiquated toilet in your bathroom? The more convenience you can offer to a buyer, the more positive the opinion they will have of your property.

Adding On to Your Home is a Great Way to Increase its Value

Another proven way to add to the value of your home is to quite literally add on to it in the physical sense. For example, if you live in a scenic area, such as one near a canyon or stream, why not add a deck to your home that will overlook it? This is a move that doesn't have to be a major strain on your budget. A simple deck or patio added on to your home is guaranteed to increase both its appeal and its ultimate resale value.

The more things that you can do to increase the attractiveness of your home, the more quickly you will able to sell it. Naturally, you won't be able to think of everything by yourself. This is why you may wish to engage the services of a professional in this area. It's an excellent idea to get in touch with a local real estate service to learn more about what you can do to add to the ultimate resale value of your current property. The sooner you do so, the sooner you can pocket the profits.

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If you are ready to sell your home, you should be aware of your options. You can choose to have your home professionally listed with a real estate service. You can also choose to try to sell your home using the "For Sale By Owner" approach. The choice is up to you.

However, if you feel that you are pressed for time or simply want to get the sale over with as soon as possible, it makes sense to choose the quicker and more efficient option. There are many reasons why listing your home with a professional real estate service is the ultimate time, money, and energy saver.

Listing Your Home Helps Get it Sold Faster

Many industry experts point to the advent of the world wide web as the single most important event in the history of modern real estate sales. This is because the power of the web has made it easier than ever to sell your home in a quick and profitable fashion. The ability to reach thousands of people with a single listing has transformed the way that real estate services are able to serve their clients.

There are many reasons why this is the case. For one, listing your home on the web gets you valuable exposure that would have never have been the case in former times. If you take the "For Sale By Owner" approach, you can certainly hang out a sign on your front yard. You can also advertise in your local "Thrifty Nickel." However, your home won't be seen by thousands of potential buyers the way it would be if you had a fully descriptive listing with photos on the web.

A Real Estate Service Can Suggest Lucrative Renovation Work

Another way that a real estate service can make selling your home easier is to suggest a course of value-adding renovations to your home. You don't have to spend more than you can afford to make your house gain real value. A few simple renovations, such as retiling your kitchen floor or replacing the faucets in your bathroom sink, can work wonders.

Potential buyers want to see that some effort has been made to keep a home in the best possible condition. If they feel that they are getting a property with no foreseeable issues or defects, they will be much more likely to buy it. Seeing evidence of recent renovations will give them the impression that the home they are possibly buying is in even newer and better condition than they initially believed.

A Real Estate Service Can Professionally Stage Your Home

In the old days, potential buyers were usually introduced to a home that had had all of the furnishings from the previous owner removed. They thus saw only the bare empty shell of the property. The idea used to be that a visitor only needed to see the home itself.

However, times have changed. In the 21st century, most real estate industry experts agree that seeing a fully furnished, "lived in" environment is far preferable to having to imagine for yourself what the place would look like once all of your own possessions were moved in. The process of giving a home this "lifelike" look is called staging. This is another area where a real estate service can provide invaluable assistance.

These are only a few of the many ways that listing your home with a professional real estate service can lead to positive results. For more advice and info, you should contact your local service today.

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Some homes may require you to customize them to your liking. When you shop for a home it is important to see the potential in the home. Consider time and finances when you visit potential homes with a REALTORŪ.

Think Creatively

As you walk through a potential home, take a notebook and write down anything you would change. Things you have to change on one side and things you'd like to change on the other. This will help you come up with a budget and consider the time involved if you will do the upgrading yourself. Imagine what the home could look like with new paint or carpeting. There are some hidden gems that only need a few things to look much nicer.

Change the Layout

If a home has a large dining room you will never use, turn it into a library or office! Think about changing the traditional layout of the home to accommodate your wants. If you find a home with smaller bedrooms, make them sleeping rooms and turn one of the common areas into a playroom or study area for the family. You may want to furnish a large master bedroom to be a tv room, rather than a room that is rarely used.

Custom Furniture

Build custom shelving, tables and beds cheaper than purchasing them. You can make them yourself or hire someone to build furniture to fit the rooms in your home. A nice farmhouse table might be expensive at a store, versus building the piece yourself. If you have needs for something that has specific measurements, such as built-in bookshelves, building it yourself can save time and money!

The Kitchen

You may want an updated kitchen when you consider purchasing a home. Instead of replacing everything in the kitchen, paint and new knobs for the cupboards could elevate a vintage kitchen. There are also ways to update countertops that are unique and bring character to a kitchen. Copper countertops bring style to a home and are an easy way to create an updated kitchen yourself.

Flooring

Bamboo, hardwood, laminate and tile can all be a weekend project. If the carpeting is in bad condition, don't hesitate to ask what type of flooring is under it. You may find hardwoods that just need a little bit of work. Creative flooring can change a standard home into a work of art that is ready for entertaining.

Landscaping

Walk the property when you visit your potential new home. Consider patios, decking and plants for your new home. These are all things that you will eventually want, so your home reflects your new ownership.

While you search for your new home, ask many questions and have an open mind about what you can do to change it yourself. Call around and get quotes or an idea of how much the changes you want to make will cost. Have a good idea about what each home you view will cost you in time and money, prior to submitting an offer.

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Purchasing a home with anyone else can give most people stress. If you are buying a home with your husband or wife, there are many ways to keep the stress lower so your relationship doesn't feel it. Some of these tips can even be fun and may help you learn something about your spouse.

Create Lists

Your home purchasing experience should be as fun as possible. Start with both of you sitting at the dinner table and making your dream home lists. Include what you'd want the feel and look of each room have. How many bedrooms, bathrooms, living areas, and where will the laundry room be? Do you both have a perfect location and size of the property? Don't consider budget at this point, because it should be a fun exercise that shows you and your spouse that there are things you both want in your new home.

Edit Your Lists

A list should be made that combines all of the similar ideas on one piece of paper and this list should be the foundation of what you are looking to purchase. The lower your budget is, the smaller the list should be in the end. You should both have one or two must-have items on the list prior to looking for your home. This will guarantee that you both are being considerate when you decide on a home together.

Know Your Budget

You and your spouse should know exactly what you can afford and exactly what you want to spend. Sometimes married couples want to spend less than what they can afford. An agreement should be made prior to looking for homes. Then you can advise your REALTORŪ of the price range you have in mind.

Communicate

A meeting at the end of each week will keep you both close and you will be able to share how you feel about each property. Sometimes, this type of communication is better after each person has time to think about what they like and dislike about each home. Either one of you may need time to visualize what life would be like in a particular home and community.

Pros and Cons

If you and your spouse are in a place where you can't agree on the homes you are presented with you can wait to see what is available in a week or two, or you can compromise. Chose the top properties that you both like and weigh the pros and cons of each one. This usually works when you both want to compromise and are more concerned with joint happiness versus picking the property you liked the most. As long as you are both communicating and showing each other that you are willing to compromise, you can find a lovely home you both enjoy.

Consider the Resale Value

If you are purchasing your first home, don't forget to ask your REALTORŪ how much the homes in that neighbourhood have appreciated annually. If the prices are going up steadily, you can use the equity to sell the home and get a larger one at a later date.

Communicating with your spouse is the key to a happy home purchasing experience. Having fun with the process will help ease some of the stresses that come with purchasing a home.

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Are you thinking of putting your home up for sale? You may have been contemplating this move for quite some time. You may have poured a considerable amount of time, energy, and money into a series of renovation projects. These projects may have resulted in a considerable increase in the resale value of your home. So far, so good. But now comes the time when you have to put it up for sale. There are several methods that you can use in order to accomplish this goal. Which one is best?

Is the "For Sale by Owner" Approach Really the Best One to Adopt?

Many home owners seem to swear by the "For Sale by Owner" approach. Their main argument is the fact that no money needs to be split with a middleman. You can simply put up a "For Sale" sign on your property and let word of mouth do the rest. For insurance, you can also list your home in various local "Thrifty Nickel"-type publications and perhaps also on Craigslist. The idea here is to keep all of the money by handling the entire sale by yourself.

How Long Will it Take to Sell Your Home Using the FSBO Method?

The real test of the efficiency of this method comes now. How long do you expect to have to keep your home on the market before you can finally seal the deal? You are relying completely on word of mouth plus whatever publicity you can drum up via ads in local trade papers. You are entitled to the full proceeds of the sale once the deal is concluded. But how long will you have to wait until the day finally coms that someone is able and willing to meet your price?

Using a Real Estate Service to Sell Your Home May Be the Easier Solution

This is actually the reason why most home owners prefer to use a real estate agency to sell their home. In the end, it simply makes the most sense. You only want to wait a certain amount of time to sell your home. You don't want to still be sitting on your present property a year after having put it up for sale. Yes, you have to pay your real estate representative a certain amount of commission. But it's well worth it.

If You Want to Save Time While Making Money, List Your Home

There really is a way to get the most money for your home while also saving the maximum amount of time. A real estate agency can list your home on the web. When people in your area, or even from other areas of the country, are looking for a new home, yours can be the first one that pops up in the listings. The people who make use of this service are looking specifically for homes using criteria that matches your home. This makes the process of finding a new property much quicker and easier.

Your Best Bet is to Let an Expert Handle the Sale on Your Behalf

There may be certain advantages to using the "For Sale by Owner" method to sell your home. But these boil down to a matter of luck more than anything else. If you don't feel like taking the chance of waiting months or years to sell your home, you may as well hire a real estate agency. This is the preferred method that will get your home sold quickly and easily. Now is the time for you to learn more.

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